The Walker County Chamber of Commerce held a public forum Monday night at the Walker County Civic Center in Rock Spring for candidates running in the Nov. 6 city elections.

Thirteen of 25 contested candidates showed up to participate in the event. Two incumbents running for the City Council in Lookout Mountain have no challengers.

Chamber chair Lecia Eubanks moderated the event, described as a forum “to discuss the reasons behind the candidates’ run for office” and as “an opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates and to ask them questions.”

Candidates gave an introduction of themselves, followed by three-minute responses to questions from the Chamber’s government affairs committee and two-minute responses to screened questions from the audience.

About 35 people attended the forum.

Election day is Nov. 6. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

LaFayette candidates

Of eight candidates running for seats on LaFayette City Council, six showed up for the candidates forum Monday night.

Running for the Ward 3 post are incumbent Judy Meeks and challengers Bill Craig and Barry Hollis. Meeks did not attend the forum.

Running for the Ward 4 post are incumbent Melvin Bridges and challenger Donnie McGaha and Eric Tallent. All three candidates attended the forum.

Running for an at-large seat are incumbents Wayne Swanson and challenger James Mashburn. Swanson did not attended the forum.

A question from the audience addressed to all the candidates asked whether each would support a referendum to decide the sale of liquor by the drink within the city. Overwhelmingly, the candidates they would support such a measure if “it were the will of the people of the city.”

Ward 3 council race

Craig, a board member for Hutcheson Medical Center, said he hopes to reduce the tax burden for the city’s senior residents and would like to see election procedures modernized, along with a continued commitment to the revitalization of downtown LaFayette.

Hollis, who recently retired as the municipal court judge for LaFayette after 27 years of service, spoke of his desire to encourage economic growth for the city, along with plans to better address the city’s many deteriorating streets. Hollis further spoke of plans to provide some means for young people of the city “to congregate within the city” that would not violate the city’s ordinances against loitering.

Ward 4 council race

Bridges spoke of his 12 years as a “servant for the people of LaFayette,” likening it to his experience as a pastor for more than 50 years. Bridges said he hopes to continue to help provide more jobs for the city and to address the city’s deteriorating water and sewer lines.

McGaha, a buyer-planner for Bluebird Corp., said that he also would like to see “more of a diversity” of jobs present within the city. He believes this can be accomplished by attracting more industry to the area. He said he believes that the city is poised to support more industry but needs to be better pitched to potential businesses.

Tallent, who is with the Georgia State Patrol, said his hopes the city also includes seeing more businesses attracted to the area. “We can’t continue to lose businesses here. We need a new direction for the city,” Tallent insisted. He further stated that the roads and sidewalks of the city needed to be reconditioned.

At-large council race

Mashburn, a 42-year businessman in Walker County, said he is concerned about the many empty buildings sitting vacant in the city. “We are losing businesses and we need new ones to replace them with,” Mashburn said. He feels the city should be offering “incentives” to attract potential businesses and offering help with the issues that are now limiting the construction of new business to the area. “The codes being enforced are choking out the progress of our city,” Mashburn said.

Chickamauga candidates

Of 11 candidates running for seats in the Chickamauga elections, five showed up for a candidates forum Monday night.

Running for mayor are incumbent Ray Crowder and challenger Thomas Bloodworth. Bloodworth did not attend the forum.

Running for two at-large City Council posts are incumbents Daymon Garrett and Robbie Robertson and challengers Dan Jefferies, Nelda Parrish, Greg Carpenter and Steve Tarvin. Only Parrish attended the forum.

Running for two at-large school board seats are incumbents Don Littleton and Grant Parrish and challenger Stephanie Loggins. All three attended Monday’s forum.

Mayor’s race

Crowder said he wants to continue to serve the city of Chickamauga as mayor. According to Crowder, the two biggest issues concerning Chickamauga are to enhance the quality of life and achieve the goals set by the city.

Council race

For Nelda Parrish, the top issues are to see the streetscaping project finished and to have more available parking in the city of Chickamauga. “If shop owners park in front, there is no room for customers,” Parrish said. Asked what her vision is for Chickamauga, she said, “We have a lot of great antique shops. We need to see more than them.” She feels that Chickamauga needs a variety of store products, a tax base for senior citizens, and to promote tourism and growth.

School board race

Littleton said, “Academics is what a school should be all about.” He feels the two biggest issues are money and academics. He wants to keep academics high and costs low.

Loggins feels that the two biggest issues are to advance children’s education and teachers. She said she has a child in the city’s school system and feels it is important to have members of the school board’s children enrolled in the schools. “I have to learn. I am a concerned parent,” Loggins said in regards to her lack of experience.

Grant Parrish said, “I am a team member on the board.” Parrish wants to see a new math and science building for the school, and maintain the look of the school.

Rossville candidates

Of six candidates running for seats in the Rossville elections, two showed up for the candidates forum Monday night.

Running for mayor are incumbent Johnnie Baker and challenger Joyce Wall. Wall did not attend the forum.

Running for two at-large City Council posts are incumbents Ted Harris and Charles Dunn and challengers Hal Gray and Bill Eaves. Only Eaves attended the forum.

Mayor’s race

Baker spoke of his continued plans to see the city revitalized. He said he was “very proud” of the service he had offered residents during the last eight years and hopes to continue to serve the city as mayor.

Council race

Eaves spoke of his desire to see economic growth, along with the completion of the Chickamauga bypass in hopes that its traffic would empty into Rossville and therefore encourage increased commerce for the city. Eaves, a lifelong resident of Walker County, recently retired as the fire chief for the city.

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